A recent study found that mothers of adolescents and adults with autism experience chronic stress levels similar to combat soldiers.
Reported in the Disability Scoop, for eight days in a row, researchers studied and interviewed a group of mothers of adolescents and adults with autism and on four of those days, their hormone levels were measured to capture their stress levels.
They discovered that a hormone associated with stress was extremely low and consistent with those experiencing chronic stress like combat soldiers.
The same report covered findings from a companion study on how the same group of mothers used their time, their level of fatigue, the leisure activities they took part in and whether any stressful event occurred. Data collected was used to compare against a national sample of mothers of kids without disabilities.
The findings are not unexpected but the disparity is a little alarming.
Mothers of those with autism reported on any given day:
– spending at least two hours more each day caregiving
– being twice as likely to be tired
– three times as likely to have experienced a stressful event
Plus these moms were interrupted at work on one out of every four days compared to less than one our 10 days for other moms.
While the study interviewed the mothers, the same could be said of caregivers in general (whether a mother, father, a grandparent or any other member of the caregiving group) – whoever has primary care responsibilities.
The fact is – it is far more demanding on parents with kids on the spectrum, regardless of their age, especially if they are juggling a job at the same time.
Imagine.
– unexpected calls from the school / centre requiring urgent pick-ups
– therapy appointments on weekdays (because most therapists work similar hours as those who work in offices)
– feeling guilty you’re not at home and feeling guilty when you’re not at work
And a whole lot more.
What can we do?
Picture generated from Meta AI